Vacation rentals in Savannah

Located on the Savannah River 20 miles from the Atlantic coast, the oldest city in Georgia has been a working seaport since 1744. Today it pulses with natural beauty and is an epicenter of the arts, home to theater companies, film screenings, live music venues, museum and art gallery exhibitions, and bespoke fashion shopping. Explore Savannah’s 22 town squares, from Orleans Square to Forsyth Park’s weekend farmers’ market, and check out the Gothic Revival architecture amid the subtropical gardens fragrant with tea olive trees and cooling mists from tinkling fountains.

Landmarks like Bonaventure Cemetery make this city a popular setting for films, and the spirited tales told in the moonlight under Spanish moss and magnolia trees sustain the rumors that Savannah is the most haunted city in the United States. Rooftop wine bars, tea rooms, and taverns offering family-style servings of shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, and pulled pork can be balanced with kayaking, golfing, and bird watching in nearby state parks and on rivers and barrier islands.

Milder temperatures, lower humidity, and an array of festivals make spring and fall ideal times for booking a vacation rental in Savannah. In March the city hosts a three-day lineup of bands performing live before heading out to larger festivals in Austin, Texas. In May you’ll find one of the country’s largest cross-genre festivals taking in pop, country, and jazz. The heat and humidity return once summer arrives, but this is opportune beach weather, perfect for visits to Tybee Island. There’s a big jazz festival in September, followed by a film festival in October that showcases works by student filmmakers and award-winning professionals. And November is the time to taste the city at the Savannah Food and Wine Festival.

Tybee Island

For the best Lowcountry boil — the traditional Georgian stew combining seafood, sausage, corn, and potatoes — and an understanding of its origin, take a day trip to Tybee Island. Here you’ll be greeted by three miles of sandy beaches and many opportunities to sample the city’s popular dishes. Make a stop at Fort Pulaski National Monument to see where Union forces overcame the Confederates during the Civil War, or marvel at the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Georgia at the Tybee Island Light Station and Museum. You can even go on a fossil hunt for megalodon (shark) teeth along the shore.

City Market

Dating back to the 1700s, this open-air market is made up of restored warehouses covering four blocks of shops, restaurants, and art centers, most notably the American Prohibition Museum, which offers lessons on how the 1920s speakeasy life thrived under strict law. The museum even offers demonstrations on how to make classic cocktails.

The Waterfront

The cobblestone street that runs along the waterfront is composed of quartz, granite, and other stones brought as ballast on ships from Britain, Canada, France, and Spain. Wander the streets while sampling Savannah’s legendary praline candies and socializing along the river. From the Waterfront you can embark on boat trips offering movable feasts, including brunch and dinner, or take a sunset or moonlight cruise.